[NEW JERSEY] After BTS' Grammys Boycott, RM Alters 'MIC Drop' Lyric for "Born in Korea"

"Whatever the next guys, ARMYs, I want to stay positive. I will never take this love granted." - RM

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — More than seven years after BTS last performed at MetLife Stadium, the group returned to East Rutherford on Saturday, Aug. 1, for the first of two sold-out ARIRANG concerts, transforming the venue into a celebration not only of their music but of the relationship they have built with ARMY around the world.

Under clear skies and warm summer weather, fans began arriving long before gates opened. The areas surrounding MetLife quickly filled with ARMY of all ages and nationalities, many dressed in shades of red inspired by the group's "ARIRANG" album while others wore outfits referencing previous eras of the group's career. Everywhere you looked, fans exchanged handmade freebies, distributed fan-made kits, traded photocards and struck up conversations with complete strangers, reinforcing the uniquely welcoming atmosphere that has become synonymous with BTS concerts.

Despite the positive atmosphere, arriving at the venue proved to be one of the day's biggest challenges as getting there required significantly more planning than many visitors anticipated, particularly for those relying on public transportation. Once at the stadium, options for escaping the afternoon heat were limited with only a few shaded areas where fans could comfortably wait before doors opened.

Inside the venue, the show ultimately began approximately 24 minutes later than scheduled, however the delay only seemed to heighten anticipation. Every movement on the giant LED screens prompted another wave of screams as the audience waited for the seven members to finally appear and when they did, it became immediately apparent that New Jersey would live up to its reputation as one of the loudest crowds of the tour.

With over 78,000 ARMY in attendance, every lyric was met with deafening screams, while fans effortlessly sang along to verses, choruses and fan chants throughout the evening. At several points, the audience became so loud that the cheers nearly overpowered the music itself or the members as they tried to talk. Furthermore, as ARMY’s jumped and danced, one could feel parts of the stadium floor shaking beneath creating an experience that was as physical as it was audible.

The group maintained its signature setlist and sound that they had debuted the tour with back in April of this year. However, the BTS standing at Metlife Stadium was completely different from the one standing at Goyang Stadium merely four months ago as the members appeared far more relaxed and comfortable, moving across the 360-degree stage with greater confidence while freely interacting with one another and the audience.

Throughout the evening, every member commented on New Jersey's incredible energy, repeatedly expressing how impressed they were by the volume of the crowd. J-Hope reflected on how surreal it felt to once again stand inside MetLife Stadium as just two weeks prior they had been there for the FIFA Club World Cup halftime show. Suga also added how having been in the venue twice in the span of such a short time confirmed for him that New Jersey audiences indeed were some of the most passionate.

One of the evening's most memorable moments of the night surprisingly arrived during "MIC Drop" where rather than performing his verse exactly as recorded, RM altered the lyrics to declare: "Haters gonna hate, and we players gonna play. Born in Korea, that's why they don't know 'bout us."

The lyric change immediately sparked one of the loudest cheers of the night, reinforcing the themes of Korean identity that run throughout the ARIRANG era and also nodding to their recent decision regarding the Grammys.

Perhaps no song embodied those themes more powerfully than "Body to Body" where the performance carried particular significance as tens of thousands of voices from countless countries, backgrounds, races etc. were all united to sing in Korean. Even from before the show started you could hear various ARMY practicing their pronunciation and intonation making their best efforts to get it right for the moment. This perfectly reflected the concept behind the tour itself which is to be able to introduce Korean culture and identity with their global audience.

Shifting the tone, ARMY Time showed thousands of fans' lifted banners. A lot of them especially showed support towards BTS following their recent decision to withdraw from consideration for the 2027 Grammy Awards. Rather than focusing on awards or recognition, a lot of ARMY’s self-made banners emphasized unwavering support for the seven members and the path they have chosen moving forward.

The surprise song segment further demonstrated the diversity of BTS' catalog and also became one of the most anticipated moments of the night for fans. The first selection, "Dis-ease," a beloved B-side from the group's 2020 album "BE", drew immediate cheers from longtime fans. However, the atmosphere shifted entirely as the opening of "Run" rang through MetLife Stadium. The audience erupted into one of the loudest reactions of the evening as fans instantly recognized one of BTS' defining tracks, screaming the opening lines before singing virtually every lyric back to the members from beginning to end.

Ultimately, what made the first night back in North America for the second leg of the ARIRANG Tour at MetLife memorable was not any single song or production element. Rather it was the display of how strong the connection is between BTS and their audience as after more than seven years away from the venue, the group returned to a stadium that not just remembered every lyric, but seemed determined to remind BTS exactly why their relationship with ARMY has endured over a decade.

Closing his ment by joking that "New Jersey and Namjoon" shared the same initials, leader RM quickly drew laughter from the crowd before surprising fans by revealing that legendary rapper Nas was attending the concert. "It's a really strange and wonderful feeling to be able to perform in front of your teenage idol," he added before reassuring fans that whatever comes next he will never take ARMY's love for granted.

Member, V also added during his closing ment that New Jersey hold a very special place to him saying, "New York holds so many truly precious memories for both us and ARMY" and "I'm so happy to be back and continue making even more memories with all of you. Now that our tour is beginning in North America, I really hope we can create countless happy and meaningful memories together"

Coming just days after one of the most consequential announcements of BTS' career, the sea of banners and the deafening cheers from nearly 78,000 fans transformed MetLife Stadium into more than just a concert venue. Together, ARMY delivered a message that needed no translation, regardless of industry recognition, BTS would never stand alone. One more night at MetLife Stadium remains before the tour moves on across North America and based on Saturday's response, New Jersey has established itself as one of the standout stops of the ARIRANG world tour.